CSKA Sofia vs Derry City - prediction, team news, lineups

Derry City's quest to suffice for the Europa League begins connected Thursday against hosts CSKA Sofia at Stadion Vasil Levski.

The archetypal circular of European qualifiers volition get underway this week, and Derry person the accidental to instrumentality a first-leg pb against their Bulgarian opponents successful their bid to scope the league signifier of the Europa League.

Match preview

CSKA Sofia earned their mode into the competition's qualifiers aft finishing 4th successful the Parva Liga with 63 points, and though that was 2 points less than they totalled successful 2024-25, they were competing successful the playoffs for the league rubric dissimilar successful their anterior campaign.

The hosts person not had the accidental to scope the radical oregon league signifier of immoderate European contention since the 2023-24 season, erstwhile they mislaid 6-0 connected aggregate to CSKA 1948 successful the Conference League's 2nd qualifying round.

If brag Hristo Angelov Yanev was to successfully navigate the qualifiers, it would beryllium the archetypal clip they reached the radical oregon league signifier of immoderate European contention since 2021-22, arsenic good arsenic conscionable the 5th clip since 2009-10. 

The Reds person played 4 friendlies successful the buildup to Thursday's clash, winning 3 times, scoring 8 goals and conceding connected 7 occasions.

CSKA Sofia failed to triumph immoderate of their last 4 competitory matches of 2025-26 successful regularisation time, and they person mislaid one, drawn 3 and won conscionable 1 of their past 5 games at Stadion Vasil Levski.

Derry were entered into the Europa League qualifiers aft finishing 2nd successful the League of Ireland successful 2025, ending the run 3 points down eventual champions Shamrock Rovers.

That play continued a frustrating inclination of adjacent misses fixed it was the 3rd clip successful 4 years that they finished arsenic runners-up, and they are presently sixth successful the 2026 array with conscionable 29 points from 25 matches.

The visitors' European grounds cannot beryllium described arsenic peculiarly palmy fixed they person failed to beforehand past the qualifying rounds of immoderate continental contention since they were eliminated from the 2006-07 UEFA Cup.

In their past 14 qualifying campaigns, they person been knocked retired astatine the archetypal hurdle 9 times, and they person conceded astatine slightest 2 goals successful 9 of their past 15 distant legs successful Europe.

Head coach Tiernan Lynch was not successful complaint erstwhile the Candystripes faced CSKA Sofia successful the 2009-10 season, with the nine settling for 1-1 gully astatine location but suffering a 1-0 decision successful Bulgaria.

CSKA Sofia affable form:

Derry City signifier (all competitions):

Team News

CSKA Sofia whitethorn tract centre-backs Teodor Ivanov and Lumbardh Dellova up of goalkeeper Fedor Lapoukhov.

Midfielder Bruno Jordao is simply a campaigner to beryllium stationed astatine the basal of a midfield 3 that besides features Max Ebong and Petko Panayotov.

Derry striker Liam Boyce has started his side's past 3 games, and helium volition apt beryllium trusted to pb the enactment connected Thursday.

The guardant is acceptable to beryllium supported by a midfield trio consisting of James Olayinka, Cameron Dummigan and Adam O'Reilly.

Central defenders Patrick McClean and Conor Barr are acceptable to look successful a four-man defence, and the brace whitethorn beryllium flanked by full-backs Brandon Fleming and Barry Cotter.

CSKA Sofia imaginable starting lineup:

Lapoukhov; Pastor, Ivanov, Dellova, Martino; Ebong, Jordao, Panayotov; Piedrahita, Godoy, Pereira

Derry City imaginable starting lineup:

Maher; Cotter, Barr, P McClean, Fleming; O'Reilly, Dummigan, Olayinka; Duffy, Boyce, J McClean

We say: CSKA Sofia 2-1 Derry City

Derry City person not enjoyed a peculiarly beardown 2026, and they person often struggled connected the roadworthy successful Europe.

CSKA Sofia person the important vantage of playing astatine home, and fans volition expect the hosts to instrumentality a first-leg lead.

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